Abstract

ABSTRACT
Introduction: Accurate working length measurement is the most important phase for successful root canal treatment. The most widely used techniques to measure the working length in root canal treatment are radiography and electronic apex locator.
Objective: To compare the measurements of radiographic and electronic methods of working lengths determination with actual working length of root canals.
Methodology: A cross sectional study was carried out over a period of 06 months in the Department of Operative Dentistry, Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore. Sixty patients who were advised extraction of their premolar teeth with sixty canals were selected by convenience sampling. The Root ZX* apex locator was used to measure electronic working length exactly detecting the apical constriction. Reference points were marked and radiographic working length were taken 1mm short of radiographic apex. The tooth was extracted with a file inside root canal. The actual length of the root canal was then determined using the same files and points of reference with 3.5X magnification. Pearson chi-square test was applied to compare the digital radiographic and apex locator measurement.
Results: The Root ZX® apex locator was 95% accurate to determine the apical constriction as compared 70% accuracy given by radiographs within 0.5 mm of the apex.
Conclusion: Electronic apex locator is more accurate than digital radiography in working length determination.

Key words: Key words: Working length (WL), Electronic apex locators (EAL), Radiographic working length(RWL), Apical constriction (AC)